Heya folks! Another shortish chapter this is. The next one promises to be a bit more dramatic and longer.
Letselina: Don't feel bad about not being right about the power thing. Honestly, if I were reading this story and not writing it, I would have made the same conclusion. Oh! And I forgot to mention this last chapter, but you were right in that Harbinger said something Raven might say. In fact, I have peppered both Vivian and Harbinger's dialog with Raven quotes. It's a little something I noticed the show does, so I decided to adopt it. Kudos for noticing!
So, without further ado, Chapter 8! Hope y'all enjoy!
Chapter 8: Better Half
Tension hung in the air. All the titans could feel it. Nothing looked all that different; Raven was reading quietly on the couch while Beast Boy and Cyborg played on the Gamestation with Starfire watching.
But there was unease in all of them. An unusual silence hung over the group.
"Perhaps we should call him?" Starfire suddenly stated, breaking the calm.
"Star, chill," Cyborg said, not taking his eyes off the game, "Just relax. Robin said he'd check in every three hours. It's only been a little over that since his last check in."
"But what if he found something?"
"He didn't find anything," Beast Boy stated gravely, a dour tone to his voice that seemed out of sorts with the green titan, "He didn't find anything the other times he checked in, right?"
"But what if he did?" Starfire stated, her voice quavering in mild panic, "If we just call him..."
"We'll do so in fifteen minutes," Raven stated, looking over the top of her book, "That's what he said to do. Wait a half hour then call."
"Surely we could--" Starfire's voice was cut off by a familiar voice.
"Could what?"
"Robin!" Starfire squealed happily at hearing the voice, jumping up and running towards him, only to stop on seeing the black figure that accompanied him, the smile on her face leering and vicious. "Huh?"
The others looked up and over. Raven did a double-take, immediately dropping her book and hovering in air, hands already in a defensive motion.
"Easy, everyone," Robin said, raising his hands, "She's not here to fight with us."
Harbinger grinned widely and wiggled her fingers in greeting.
"Who are you?" Raven demanded in her monotone, guardedly lowering her hands and setting her feet on the floor.
"Her name is Harbinger," Robin replied, motioning towards the dark figure, "And she--"
"Just think of me as Vivian's better half," Harbinger interjected, giving a deep bow and smiling wickedly at Raven, "I do apologize for our little dance earlier. I thought you were someone else. I hope I didn't damage you too badly."
The color drained away from Beast Boy's face, his form seeming to deflate, the game controller falling from his hands. "So... it is true. Vivian does have something to do with all this."
"Yes," Harbinger replied, slinking up to the green titan and snaking an arm about his shoulders, "But not in the way you think, my friend." Beast Boy snapped out of his morose reverie and blinked at the tall woman beside him, his cheeks reddening in embarrassment.
Raven's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing at the figure, "What are you?"
Red eyes swiveled to regard the gloomy titan and musical laughter erupted from her mouth, "My, not one for small talk, are you? Let's just say I'm here to help."
"You're a demon," Raven pressed, her voice icy and flat, "You possessed her, didn't you?"
Harbinger rolled her eyes in exasperation, "My, quite the distrustful bunch, aren't you? I just went through this with bird boy over there." She motioned idly with her fingers towards Robin, her fingertip incidentally running gently along Beast Boy's cheek. He appeared quite stunned, unable to speak. "No, I didn't possess her. It was a mutual agreement. I'll explain everything in a moment, as I did to your leader."
Raven glared suspiciously at Harbinger, the look returned by a vicious, knowing smile. Raven turned towards Robin and asked in an even, cool voice, "May I have a word with you? In private?"
Robin nodded and Raven headed off down the hallway, her cloak billowing behind her. "Excuse us for a moment..." The Boy Wonder walked off after her.
Harbinger watched the pair retreat then smiled widely at the remaining titans, "Well! While we wait for them to return, why don't we all get comfortable and... get to know each other better?"
Raven walked briskly down the hallway until she was reasonably certain she was out of earshot. Abruptly, she stopped and whirled around, facing Robin. "What's she doing here?"
"She's going to help us," Robin replied gently, "She'll explain everything."
"I don't trust her," Raven stated flatly, "Everything about her just feels wrong."
"I don't trust her either," Robin replied matter-of-factly.
"So... then why is she here?"
Robin sighed, running a gloved hand through his hair, "Raven, we know virtually nothing about her. But she seems to know what's really going on here. And we're pretty much in the dark. If she's right, we need answers and we need them fast. Besides, isn't it better that we have her here, with us where we can keep track of her, rather than out there doing who knows what? Here, we're in control."
Raven's lips twitched down into a slight frown. "I don't like it."
A slight pause ensued before Robin tilted his head slightly, "I don't like it either, honestly. But you to object more than on a basis of personal dislike. Are you sure there isn't something else?"
Raven paused then took a deep breath. "There was... something she said. During our fight." Robin remained silent, waiting. "She... knew who my father was. I have issues with my father. He is a very dangerous being."
Robin paused then smiled slightly, "I see. I'm glad you finally told me."
Raven blinked once. "You knew?"
"I took the liberty of requesting the security tapes from the robbery," Robin stated with a shrug, "The sound quality was poor, but I was able to reconstruct what was said."
Raven stared blankly for several moments. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I knew you'd tell me if you wanted to," Robin stated, "I didn't want to press the issue. I'm glad you did tell me, though." He sighed again. "And it's precisely that kind of... arcane knowledge which makes me think that Harbinger can help us and makes me believe what she said."
"What do you mean?" Raven asked.
Robin smiled, "I think she'll explain it. Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes. I have to go and make sure the tower security cameras are working."
Raven smiled slightly, "You're going to stay up all night and watch her, aren't you?"
Robin shrugged as he headed on down the hallway, "Like I said, I don't trust her either."